Osaka: The Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka officially opened Tuesday, bringing a vision of the relationship between land and sea to the global audience gathered for this World Exposition.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Pavilion was commissioned by Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry with creative and content direction led by the Qatar Blueprint, a think tank within the Chairperson’s Office of Qatar Museums. Housed in an extraordinary structure designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, a multimedia exhibition conceived by the international architecture and urbanism firm OMA*AMO explores how the nation’s 563-kilometre (360-mile) coastline has shaped the culture, heritage, identity, and industry of Qatar. The Pavilion is the nation’s official contribution to Expo 2025 Osaka, which is dedicated to helping the world achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The Qatar Pavilion will remain on view through 13 October 2025.
HE Chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani commented on the significance of the coastline to Qatar’s development, linking it to the Pavilion’s theme of dynamic harmony between land and sea. She extended congratulations to HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan Jaber Jarallah Al-Marri, the commissioner-general of the Qatar Pavilion, and HE Deputy Commissioner-General and Chairman of the preparation committee Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani.
The Pavilion, designed by Kengo Kuma, recalls the form of a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel of the region. The structure combines traditional Qatari and Japanese wood-joinery techniques, symbolizing the maritime heritage and close relations between the two nations. Visitors are greeted by poems from Qatar’s Founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, displayed alongside coastal images.
Inside, the Pavilion showcases sand hues representing Qatar’s desert landscapes and features archaeological findings from Al Jassasiya. Maps illustrate Qatar’s historical and modern development. A panorama of the Qatari coastline and the “Sea Curtain” by Inside-Outside highlight the maritime boundary.
A three-screen film by The Explorers narrates Qatar’s journey through archival and contemporary footage. The exhibition aligns with Expo 2025’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” emphasizing the Qatari people’s role in shaping the nation’s future.
The section “Land and Sea – Navigating the Journey,” curated by the National Museum of Qatar, focuses on the pearl divers and merchants who played vital roles in Qatar’s history. It also highlights women’s roles in coastal communities.
The Pavilion’s second floor offers a library curated by Atlas Bookstore and a majlis designed by Maryam Al Homaid. It also celebrates Qatar-Japan relations and features artworks by Yousef Ahmed and Hayaki Nishigaki. The flexible space hosts various events.
Photographers such as Fatema Ibrahim Al Sehlawi and Meera Badran contribute to the visual narrative. Official uniforms are designed by TERZI, with the Pavilion’s identity developed by the Government Communications Office – State of Qatar, QC+, TERZI, and St?dio Noor Saad.